Pryderi is a prominent figure in Welsh mythology, appearing in all four branches of the Mabinogion, the Welsh Triads and Preiddeu Annwfn. His final resting place is also mentioned in the Stanzas of the Graves.
Although not in any stories directly related to Arthur, he is connected to other characters in the wider Arthurian mythos. He is a possible origin for the character Perceval and elements of his story feature in other Arthurian legends.
In the Mabinogion[]
Pryderi, was born in Arberth to Pyyll, Lord of Dyfed and Rhiannon. On the night of his birth he disappeared and, to avoid the king's wrath, Rhiannon's ladies-in-waiting claimed that it was Rhiannon who had killed her own child.
The child ended up in a stables where he was raised by farmers untill his likeness to Pwyyll grew more obvious and he was returned to his family. Upon his fathers death he became ruler of Dyfed and set about expanding his territories.
Pryderi accompanies Bran the Blessed on his attack on Ireland where Pryderi is one of only seven men to survive the violent battle. Bran is also wounded and his instructs the survivors to cut off his head and return it to Britain and bury it under the tower of London facing the West to repel invaders.
Some time later, Pryderi receives a number of otherworldly pigs from his father's old ally, Arawn, king of Annwn, which are stolen through trickery. Pryderi declares war and suffers a defeat. He is killed in single combat between Gwydion and Pryderi at a place called Y Velen Rhyd in Ardudwy, and "because of strength and valour and magic and enchantment". Gwydion triumphs and Pryderi is killed.
In the Other Medieval Texts[]
Pryderi is named once in the Welsh Triads, as one of the three powerful swineherds.
The Stanzas of the Graves refer to his final resting place as: "Aber Gwenoli...where the waves beat against the land."
The Book of Taliesin poem Song before the sons of Llyr also mentions Pryderi and associates him both with Manawydan fab Llyr and with the otherworldly fortress of Caer Sidi.
An obscure reference is also made of Pryderi and his father in the cryptic early medieval poem Preiddeu Annwfn
The character is also referred to in the works of a number of bards, including Einion fab Gwalchmai, Howel Foel ap Griffri and Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr. The famous fourteenth century poet Dafydd ap Gwilym referred to Dyfed as Pryderi Dir (The Land of Pryderi.)
In Modern Works[]
Pryderi appears in the children's fantasy series The Chronicles of Prydain in the final book of the series, Book 3 - The High King. King Pryderi is a powerful monarch and warlord who betrays his liege lord, High King Math son of Mathonwy, and the House of Don, to side with Arawn Death-Lord. However, King Pryderi succumbs to his pride and ambition. When he ventures to Caer Dallben in an attempt to murder Dallben the enchanter and steal the Book of Three, he is killed by an enchantment protecting the book.
Relationship to Percival[]
- Jeffrey Gantz compares him to Peredur fab Efrawg in his translation of the Mabinogion. Perdeur is associated with the continental figure of Sir Percival de Galles.
- Pryderi's father Pywll has been related to the character Pelles who later became The Fisher King who guarded the Holy Grail in later stories. There are similarities between this story and Preiddeu Annwfn.
See Also[]
External Links